Weak link in home security means greater holiday-season risk

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - A recent rash of burglaries on Staten Island have some homeowners reevaluating the reliability of their security systems, according to a local expert.

"The risk of burglaries is heightened during this time of year, as homes fill with holiday-gift purchases," said Steve Coppola, president of Meiers Corners-based APB Security Systems. "Unfortunately, even the most seemingly secure home may be vulnerable to burglars."

For most homeowners, a top quality radio-transmission system is likely the best option, but such systems are often underutilized, said Coppola, whose company has been in the security/fire alarm and monitoring industry for the past 35 years.

"Too often, intruders cut telephone lines, disabling an alarm signal's path to the central station," he explained. "Assuming it had been armed prior to the breach, the alarm system still would work, but the central station wouldn't receive the signal."

In such cases, the siren, with a potential of being disabled by the intruder, rings only at the break-in site; and the central station, police, homeowner or business owner are not notified. The solution, Coppola said, is the installation of a top-grade radio transmitter. "Cellular transmitters would be my second choice," Coppola said. "But cellular transmitters unfortunately rely upon signal strength. Anyone who uses a cell phone on Staten Island knows signal strength varies throughout the borough, and that could compromise the ability of your signal to reach a central station."

For more information on radio-transmission alarm systems, contact APB at 718-698-8244, or visit online at www.apbsecurity.com.